CVE-2003-1315 in Land Down Under
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in auth.php in Land Down Under (LDU) v601 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1315 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the authentication component of Land Down Under v601 and earlier versions. This issue specifically affects the auth.php file which serves as the primary authentication interface for the web application. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input parameters that manipulate the underlying database queries, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information and system resources.
This SQL injection vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database backend without requiring legitimate authentication credentials. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can manipulate database contents, create new user accounts, modify existing records, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network presence to carry out successful attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across multiple security domains. From a confidentiality perspective, attackers can extract sensitive user credentials, personal information, and business data stored in the database. Integrity concerns arise as malicious actors can modify or delete critical database entries, potentially corrupting the application's data structure. Availability is also at risk since attackers could execute destructive SQL commands that might render database services unavailable or compromise the entire application infrastructure. The vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities and T1078 for valid accounts usage, as attackers can leverage compromised authentication mechanisms to maintain persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1315 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase, particularly in the auth.php file and related authentication modules. Database access controls should be strengthened through principle of least privilege implementation, ensuring that application database accounts have minimal required permissions. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and consider migrating to more recent versions of the Land Down Under application that have addressed this vulnerability. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices outlined in standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks to ensure comprehensive security posture improvement.